The first “obesity gene” that slows down metabolism has been discovered,
proving that some people are naturally at greater risk of being overweight.

All previous gene variants linked to obesity are thought to influence appetite
or self-control rather than acting directly on cells. The latest one appears
to both increase the urge to eat and decrease the speed at which energy is
used up by the body, significantly raising the likelihood of a person being
overweight or obese.

Sadaf Farooqi, a professor of metabolism and medicine at the University of
Cambridge, who led the study, said: “It’s a double whammy.